Conveyer



Aug. 29, 1950 n. c. CAMPION, SR 2,520,527

CONVEYER Filed June 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27 F I [3. l

ATTOHNEYJ Aug. 29, 1950 D. c. CAMPION, SR 2,520,527

' CONVEYER Filed June 27, 1346 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOI? Don/A10 c. CAMP/0N, 5F.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1950 Donald C. Campion,

sr., Detroit, 1inch, I assigiior to Loftus Engineeringl corporation,Pittsburgh, Pa... acorporation of Maryland Application June 27, 1946, Serial 679,662

This invention relates to a conveyor and more particularly to a conveyor which is useful, for example, in quenching, washing, rinsing, pickling, or other operations where the work is conveyed through the solution with a continuous but agitated flow while in the solution.

It is an object of this invention to produce a conveyor which will convey articles with a continuous flow but with agitation superimposed upon the continuous flow.

It is an object of this invention to produce such a conveyor which is of simple structure, eflicient and reliable in operation and economical to build.

, Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing my oscillating conveyor.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sections along lines 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1 respectively.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the mechanism for oscillating the conveyor.

By way of illustration, my conveyor is shown conveying work through a body of liquid I in tank 2. The frame of my conveyor apparatus is designated 3. r l

The conveyor proper comprises a squirrel cage 4 in. the form of a foraminated or wire mesh cylinder or open ended drum provided with an external circumferential track 5 fixed on the outside of the conveyor. The wire mesh screen permits draining of the liquid. The conveyor 4 is provided with circumferentially spaced flights 6, for receiving and carrying the work.

Conveyor 4 is cradled in, and suspended by, chain 1 which passes over idler sprocketsll and under driving sprocket 9. Driving sprocket 9 is fixed on shaft H] which is journalled at its opposite ends in bearings ll fixed on the upper cross members I 2 of frame 3.

Shaft It! is rotated by electric motor l3 through belt M, pulley l5, sprocket l6, chain I1 and sprocket l8 fixed on shaft [0.

Idler sprockets 8 are fixed on shafts I!) which are journalled in bearings 26 which are fixed on. pivoted frame 2|. Frame 2! is fixed on bearings 22 in which shaft [0 is journalled. Thus, frame 2| is free to oscillate or pivot upon shaft HJ. 0scillation of frame 2| upon shaft In is effected by means of arm 23 which is fixed to frame 2! and positioned perpendicular thereto. Thus, frame 2| and arm 23 form a double armed bell crank. Arm 23 is connected by connecting rod 24 with crank 25 which is driven by electric motor 26 through gear reduction box 21.

Work 29 which is to be immersed in the bath, (in this case, for purposes of illustration, an oil.

12 Claims. (01, 259-;72)

or-water quench) enters the bath by sliding down chute 28 intothe conveyor proper as at 30. Conveyor drum 4 is rotated counterclockwise by chain Jandflights Bcarry the work toward the top of the conveyor where the work falls off the fiights and slides down the discharge chute 3| into a receptacle 32. Chutes 28 and 3| are fixed on frame 3. i

As the conveyor 4 rotates counterclockwise and; effects a continuous flow of the work through liquid 2, an oscillating motion is superimposed upon the rotating motion by means of the oscillating idler sprockets 8 over which the chain 1 runs. Driving sprocket}! meshes with chain 1 and drives drum 4 counterclockwise with a continuous counterclockwise rotation. Simultaneously as motor 26, rotating crank arm 25 and connecting rod 24 oscillate frame 2| upon shaft Ill, the idler sprockets B seesaw or oscillate upwardly and downwardly as indicated by the dotted line showings in Figs. 1 and 5. This oscillating motion of idler sprockets 8 is transmitted through chain 1 to the squirrel cage conveyor 4 where it manifests itself in a circular oscillating motion around the horizontal axis of drum 4. The net result of these two motions is that the work is swished back and forth through the bath or vice versa while the work is being conveyed through the bath. This insures uniform and speedy, treatment of the work. It is, of course, understood that the abovemechanism is shown by way of illustration and not for purposes of limitation.

My invention isessentially,characterized by a mechanism which simultaneously oscillates the work while simultaneously conveying the work along a course with a continuous flow 'and more specifically the oscillation, as shown, can be a circular oscillating motion and the course along which the work is conveyed a circular course, the circular oscillating motion and the circular course of travel having a common axis or center.

It will be seen that the chain 1 travels continuously in a counterclockwise direction but the speed at which sprockets 8 oscillate upwardly and downwardly is preferably greater than the linear speedof chain 1.; However, the speed at which sprockets 8 travel upwardly and downwardly can be equal to, or even less than, the linear speed of chain .1. Consequently, as'frame 2i pivots clockwise, Figs. 1 and 5, chain 1 will be moved bodily:

wise. Thenet'result willbe that drum l will actually oscillate in a clockwise direction, that is,

3 make a clockwise stroke. Then as frame 2| oscillates counterclockwise, this motion will be superimposed upon the counterclockwise travel of chain 1 and the net result will be that drum 4 will oscillate on a counterclockwise stroke at a greater speed than the speed of chain I. Thus, I have a conveyor for holding the work which is driven by a mechanism, specifically chain 1'; which travels continuously in one direction and superimposed upon this continuous movement of chain 1 is an oscillating movement caused by a secondary driving mechanism, specifically oscilelating frame 2| and idler sprockets 8, which alternately bodily move chain 1 inthe-directiomofiits' travel and reversely thereof at" a greater rate, of

speed than the speed of travel of the chain continuously in the one direction;

The work is herein shown, by way of, example.

only, traveling along a. circular coursebut it is understood that the course of the work could just a's-well-be along a rectilinear course wherein the work during its continuous linear progression wouldbe oscillated back and'forth.

Although I have shown thedrum: rotated by chain and sprockets, it isobvious that equivalentmeans can be'substituted therefor; namely, belt and pulleys,- and a chain and sprockets are herein used generically to include a belt and pulleys;

I claim:

1'; A conveyor comprising: work receiving means, means for actuating said work receivingmeans, primary" driving mechanism operativelyconnected-with said actuating means for moving said work receivingmeans unidirectionally, and secondary driving mechanism operatively connected to said actuati'ngmeans for moving said workyreceiving means intermittently in the same and reverse directions that the primary drivin mechanism is moving the work receiving means andat a greater speed than that at which the primary'driving mechanism is movingthe work receiving means wherebythe work" is oscillated back and forth along, its course oftravel" and always with a net forward advance along its course at the end of each cycle of oscillation.

2: A conveyor comprising workreceiving means, means for actuating said work-(receiving means, primary driving mechanism. operatively connected to said actuating means; for movingthe work receiving means in: one direction; and secondary driving meansoperatively connected to said actuating means for. alternately moving said work receiving means bodily in the above said direction and reversely thereof ata" greater rate of speed than the speed at'which the primary driving mechanism is moving the work receiving means in the above said onedirection whereby as the work receiving means travels along'itsicourse' it' is simultaneously oscillated back and forth along said-course;

3. A conveyor comprising; work' receivingmeans, primary driving mechanism operatively connectedto said work receiving means for mow ing said work receiving means in onedirection, and secondary driving means operatively con nected to said primarydriving means forsuper imposing upon the primary drivingmeans'an S.- cillating movement backwardly andforwardlyof saiddirection of travel of 'saidprimary driving mechanism.

4;- A conveyor: comprising a drum adapted to atively. connected to :said drum fori rotating the same in one direction, and auxiliary means operatively connected to the above said endless member for oscillating the same backwardly and forwardly along its linear path of travel whereby the drum is rotated and simultaneously oscillated about a common axis.

5. A conveyor comprising a drum, endless means, meansfor continuously moving: said endless means in one and thesame direction along a predetermined course, said endless means being operatively connected to said drum for rotatingthe same, and oscillating means operatively connected to said endless means for alternately bodily-movingsaidendless means back and forth along. its course at a greater rate of speed than the speed'of travel of the endless means in the one direction whereby the drum is simultaneously rotated and oscillated about a common axis.

6. A conveyor comprising a drum adapted to receive-the-work, a driving: chain in whichthe drum is cradled, idler sprockets over which-the. chain travels, oscillating supports: for said idler sprockets, and-means for-driving said chain continuously at a uniform speed over said idler sprockets whereby-the chain rotatessaid drum; and m'eans for oscillating the supports for said sprockets so that the one sprocket: moves toward thedrum-wliile the other sprocketsimultaneously moves away from the drum whereby the chain oscillates the drumabout its axis ofrotation:

72 Aconveyor comprising an-open ended drum; an endlesschaininwliich said drumis-cradled; a frame, rotating sprockets positioned on said frame on opposite'sidesoi' itsaxis of pivoting, said endless chain passing over said: idler sprockets, a. driving sprocket for driving said chain in one direction whereby as the chain is driven in the one direction by" the driving sprocket it is simultaneously oscillated by the oscillating sprockets" so that: the drum partakes of "a rotating and oscillating movement aboutv a common axis.

8. A conveyor comprising work receiving means, means foractuatingsaid Work: receiving means, primary driving: mechanism operatively connected-.tosaid actuating means for moving: the: work. receiving. means, continuously in. onedirection,.. and. secondary driving means opera-r tively, connected to said actuating. means for. alternately moving. said; work receiving means and the actuating; means bodily in. theabove said direction; and reverselyrthereof whereby as the work-receiving. means; travels. along. its course:- it is simultaneously oscillated backandforth alongsaidcourse;

9. A, conveyor comprisingv work. receiving; means, means for actuatingcsaid'workr'receiv ingtmeans, primary drivinggmechanism for moving said actuating and. work receiving means. unidirectionally, and secondary driving mechanism for moving saidactuating and. work-.re ceiving means alternately; in; the same; and ree versedirections. that the'primary driving mechr-- anismtismovingithework receiving.means where-- by. the work; receiving means is; oscillated. back and'forth-along its courseof travel.

10. A conveyor: comprising. an open' ended; drum, arr, endless-1 chain: inv which said drum cradled to-rotate about a-n-axis, oscillating supports arranged Sorthat; the ones: support moves. toward-.thezsaid drumwvhile the other support simultaneously moveszaway' from'said; drum; .an" idler; sprocket; positioned on .each' of said: supports, said i endlesa, chain; passing over: saidgidler sprockets, a driving sprocket for driving said chain uni-directionally whereby as the chain is driven uni-directionally by the driving sprocket it is simultaneously oscillated by the oscillating idler sprockets, the speed of oscillation of the sprockets in the one direction being added to the speed of travel of the endless chain and in the other direction being subtracted therefrom.

11. In a conveyor mechanism for conveying work, a work holder, driving means traveling in one direction along a course with a continuous movement, means for effecting the travel of said driving means, said driving means being operatively connected to said work holder for moving said work holder along a course of travel, oscillating means engageable with said driving means for bodily displacing said driving means along said course of travel of said driving means first in said direction of travel and then in a direction opposite thereto whereby said work holder is provided with an intermittent accelerating and decelerating motion.

12. In a conveyor mechanism for conveying work, flexible driving means traveling in one direction with a continuous movement, means for 25 efiecting the travel of said driving means, a driving connection between said work holder and said driving means, and oscillating means engageable with said flexible driving means for bodily displacing a portion of said flexible driving means in one direction in the plane of travel of ;.said driving means and another portion of said driving means simultaneously in an opposite direction and then bodily displacing said portibns simultaneously in directions opposite to the previously mentioned directions whereby said work holder is driven by said driving means with an alternating accelerating and deceleratins-motion.

DONALD C. CAMPIOH, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 158,662 Pendleton Sept. 1, 1891 1,271,433 Cassell July 2, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 546,249 Germany Mar. 11, 1932 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,520,527 August 29, 1950 DONALD O. OAMPION, SR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 34, for the Words a frame read an oscillating frame;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of November, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

